Draw bar stowage

Abstract

A draw bar stowage apparatus includes an opening through the bed floor of the cargo box of a pickup truck for receiving the insertion end of a draw bar. The stowage apparatus may include an additional bracket beneath the bed floor, bed protection, a plug and adjustable tether for securing a stowed draw bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A draw bar stowage apparatus, comprising a bed floor in a cargo box of a pickup truck defining a first opening large enough to accept an insertion end of a draw bar but too small to pass a coupling end of the draw bar. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening comprises a flanged opening. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is positioned rearward of a wheel well. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first opening is positioned between a sidewall of the cargo box and a main floor region of the bed floor that is delimited by the wheel wells. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is positioned forward of a wheel well. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first opening is positioned between a sidewall of the cargo box and a main floor region of the bed floor that is delimited by the wheel wells. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket beneath the bed floor and defining a second opening large enough to accept the insertion end of the draw bar. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket is attached to the bed floor. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket is attached to a lateral cross member attached to the bed floor. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an escutcheon lining the first opening. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the escutcheon extends from a bed protection panel covering a portion of the bed floor. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a sidewall protection panel extending from the bed protection panel and covering a portion of a sidewall of the cargo box. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable tether coupled to one of the bed floor and a sidewall of the cargo box and configured for retaining the coupling end of a stowed draw bar. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a removable plug for insertion into the escutcheon. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a removable plug for insertion into the escutcheon and flexibly attached to the bed protection panel. 
     
     
       16. A draw bar stowage apparatus, comprising:
 a cargo box of a pickup truck including a bed floor, sidewalls and wheel wells, the bed floor of the cargo box comprising a main floor region laterally delimited by the wheel wells and floor regions forward and rearward of the wheel wells and delimited by the wheel wells, the sidewalls and the main floor region; 
 one of the floor regions forward and rearward of the wheel wells defining a first opening through the bed floor large enough to accept an insertion end of a draw bar but too small to pass a coupling end of the draw bar; and 
 a bracket beneath the bed floor and defining a second opening large enough to accept the insertion end of the draw bar. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one of the floor regions forward and rearward of the wheel wells comprises a floor region rearward of a wheel well. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a bed protector comprising a bed protection panel and an inner wall protection panel wherein the bed protection panel includes an aperture aligned with the first opening through the bed floor. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one of the floor regions forward and rearward of the wheel wells comprises a floor region rearward of a wheel well, further comprising:
 a bed protector comprising a bed protection panel and an inner wall protection panel wherein the bed protection panel includes an aperture aligned with the first opening through the bed floor; and 
 an adjustable tether coupled to one of the bed floor and a sidewall of the cargo box and configured for retaining the coupling end of a stowed draw bar. 
 
     
     
       20. A draw bar stowage apparatus, comprising:
 a cargo box of a pickup truck including a bed floor, sidewalls and wheel wells, the bed floor of the cargo box comprising a main floor region laterally delimited by the wheel wells and a floor region rearward of a wheel well and delimited by the wheel well, a sidewall and the main floor region; 
 a floor region rearward of a wheel well defining a first opening through the bed floor large enough to accept an insertion end of a draw bar but too small to pass a coupling end thereof; 
 a bracket attached to the bed floor and positioned beneath the bed floor and defining a second opening large enough to accept the insertion end of the draw bar; 
 a bed protector including a bed protection panel, an inner wall protection panel, and an escutcheon inserted into the first opening; 
 a removable plug for insertion into the escutcheon and flexibly attached to the bed protection panel; and 
 an adjustable tether coupled to the cargo box and configured for retaining the coupling end of a stowed draw bar.